ABSTRACT:
Background: Herpesviruses are ubiquitous in nature and infect a range of animals, from oysters to humans. Symptoms of herpes simplex virus infection in Humans include watery blisters in the skin or mucous membranes of the mouth, lips or genitals. However, there is a poor knowledge about HSV prevalence and distribution in Syria. Aim of the study: to determine the prevalence of HSV1-2 in Syrian Arad Republic. Material and methods: 211 patients were included in this study, 161 (76.3%) females, and 50 (23.7%) males. Blood samples were taken from all patients and tested for HSV1 & HSV2 using ELISA technique. Results: 28.0% of patients had positive anti-HSV1 (IgM), whereas the negative percentage was 72.0%. 75.8% of patients were HSV1 (IgG) positive, whereas 24.2% were HSV1 (IgG) negative. 7.1% of patients were positive for HSV2 (IgM), and there was 92.9% negative for HSV2 (IgM). 9.0% of patients were positive for HSV2 (IgG) while there were 91.0% HSV2 (IgG) negative. Conclusion: the prevalence of HSV1 is more than of HSV2 in Syrian Arab republic.